Unraveling the Mystery: Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Age and the IPL Auction Controversy Behind His ₹1 Cr Bid!

Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest cricketer to be signed by an IPL team when the Rajasthan Royals acquired him for Rs 1.10 crore. However, his record-breaking contract has sparked discussions regarding the authenticity of his age.

P24 News Media

November 26, 2024

1 minute

"Unraveling the Mystery: Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Age and the IPL Auction Controversy Behind His ₹1 Cr Bid!"

India

The Rajasthan Royals, an IPL franchise, made headlines when they secured the services of cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a staggering Rs 1.10 crore during the mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At the remarkably tender age of 13 years and eight months, Suryavanshi etched his name in history as the youngest player ever to be acquired by an IPL team. However, this milestone was soon marred by allegations of age misrepresentation, with certain individuals asserting that he is actually 15 years old. Compounding these claims was a previous interview in which Suryavanshi seemed to indicate that he would be celebrating his 15th birthday this year.

During a recent interview in 2023, Suryavanshi disclosed to a local news outlet that he was set to turn 14 on September 27 of that year. This contradiction sparked a flurry of speculation online regarding his true age. In light of the swirling controversy, Suryavanshi's father stepped in to clarify the situation, stating that his son had undergone the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) bone density test, further defending the legitimacy of his age.

It is important to recognize that in India, the practice of maintaining dual birthdates—often for educational enrollment—is not uncommon. This can lead to significant discrepancies between official documentation and the actual ages of individuals, thereby fueling further speculation in cases like this.

Suryavanshi's father revealed that the Rajasthan Royals had initially invited his son for batting trials before formally signing him. The batting coach for the franchise, Vikram Rathour, created a challenging scenario for Suryavanshi, requiring him to score 17 runs in a single over. His father recounted the impressive response, stating, “Rajasthan Royals had called him for trials in Nagpur. Vikram Rathour sir gave a match situation where he had to score 17 in an over. Bituwa ne 3 chakka mara. Trials mein aat chakka aur char chauwaa mara.” This translates to him hitting three sixes during the challenge and an extraordinary total of eight sixes and four fours throughout the trial.

Emerging from Bihar, Suryavanshi quickly gained notoriety on social media after notching an impressive century off just 62 deliveries in a Youth Test match for India Under-19 against Australia U-19 in Chennai. With this remarkable achievement, he became the youngest cricketer to secure an international century, further solidifying his status as a promising young talent.

His journey in domestic cricket has already begun to take shape, having participated in five Ranji Trophy matches since making his first-class debut against Mumbai earlier this year. Recently, he also made his T20 debut on November 23 in a game against Rajasthan, further showcasing his skills on a larger stage.

Supporting his son’s cricketing ambition has not come without sacrifice. Suryavanshi's father is a farmer in Motipur village, located 15 kilometers from Samastipur town in Bihar. To finance his son's aspirations in cricket, he had to sell farmland, a testament to the family's dedication to nurturing Suryavanshi's burgeoning career. As this young athlete embarks on his professional journey in the world of cricket, the eyes of fans and critics alike will undoubtedly remain fixed upon him, eager to see how his story unfolds in the coming seasons.